Visualization: Ten Years in the Future

posted 4th September 2010    Written by: Renee    CATEGORY: All Posts, Inspiration, Job/Career/Work, Renee, Season 3

It’s a crisp morning somewhere in the Midwest. I wake up to a little dew on the grass in my backyard. I put on a sweater and enjoy my coffee on the back deck. I listen to the birds greet the new day and watch the squirrels quarrel in the branches. My cat sits beside me. I take a moment to myself.

My husband rouses and kisses me good morning. We go about our routine: eating cereal on the couch, packing our bags for the day, catching up on email and news. I blow dry my hair and apply my makeup. I slip on my shoes and climb on my bike.

I’m ready to ride to campus.

I pass a few of my students on the way to class. I start my mornings teaching Feminist Community Building in the Blogosphere. It’s a graduate-level course and I’ve been mentoring some of these students since their freshmen year. I feel connected to them, I see myself in them. I want to open the academic world to them and tell them everything is going to work out just right as long as you believe in yourself. Class goes by quickly. It always does when your students are as excited about the material as you are.

I pack up my bag and grab a cup of tea with a colleague. We were in the same Masters program together. It’s nice to catch up with someone who knew you way-back-when. She tells me about her kids, how they’ve grown into fine young men and are now playing hockey at a Big 10 school. I like to watch them on the weekends. It’s nice to have someone to cheer on. I invite her and her husband over for a fondue night this weekend. She agrees to bring wine and I request Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck. I remember when I introduced her to it and I’m in the mood for nostalgia.

I have to head back to my office for my scheduled office hours. I know at least one student mentioned she would stop by. I climb the stairs to my office. It’s a small space; books occupy three of the four walls. I settle into my chair and flip on the lamp. It’s one of the first lamps my husband and I bought when we moved in together. I make a mental note to visit IKEA soon.

My student never stops by, but I spend my free time ignoring the book I’m working on. That next chapter can wait just one more day. Instead, I book our hotel in Rome. We’ve been planning to celebrate our 10th anniversary in Italy for some time now. We bought our plane tickets last weekend. I choose a cute boutique just outside the historical center, but close enough to all the right bus routes. I can’t wait to show my husband the city that shaped who I am so many years ago. I catch myself daydreaming about Sant’Eustachio cappucini and frutti di bosco cornetti fresh-baked and still warm. I grateful we can afford to take this trip for our anniversary and that we’ve budgeted wisely.

After my last class of the day, I ride home. Tonight is stir-fry night but it’s still too early to start cooking. Instead, I start a pot for tea, put my slippers on, and settle into our rich burgundy couch. I should probably proofread a section of my book before I send this part of it off to my editor. My cat hops up and starts to purr. I’m grateful for our comfortable, albeit small home, for our friends, and for our comfortable salaries.

I reflect on my day. Cozy. Comfortable. Productive. Progressive. I feel like I’m making a difference in my students’ academic lives. I’m writing for me. I still adore my husband. I feel complete. I feel validated. I feel loved.

These are my big dreams. What are yours?

[image via mhobl]

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Comments (12)

12 Responses to “Visualization: Ten Years in the Future”

  • Erin Says:
    September 4th, 2010 at 8:38 am

    Ohhh, this is such a lovely visual.

    Right now, my big dreams are: Survive c-section. Don't kill babies.

  • Molly_Hoyne Says:
    September 4th, 2010 at 9:57 am

    "I reflect on my day. Cozy. Comfortable. Productive. Progressive. I feel like I’m making a difference in my students’ academic lives. I’m writing for me. I still adore my husband. I feel complete. I feel validated. I feel loved."

    I'm betting that's how you aim to feel each day. Beautiful! (Two Buck Chuck! Hah!!)

  • Alisha Says:
    September 4th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    I love that last little paragraph too. Especially the cozy and comfortable. I don't really feel that currently, but when I envision my life in the future, cozy and comfortable are the first words that usually come to mind for me.

  • marianschembari Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 2:04 am

    Perfection. Love everything about this post and am also a little jealous you have an idea of how you want your life to look. I'm still figuring that part out ;-)

  • nikkiklecha Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 7:30 am

    lovely lovely lovely. and totally do-able. :)

  • Renee Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 5:20 pm

    Erin, I foresee you blowing your big dreams out of the water! You'll be a wonderful mama, in-labor and post-labor!

  • Renee Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 5:21 pm

    You know, Molly… I'm starting to feel exactly that way each day.

  • Renee Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Something about being cozy and comfortable just sounds perfect, doesn't it? Like being wrapped up in a heavy blanket in a cabin on a chilly night.

  • Renee Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    The Joy Equation definitely forced me to give myself tangible goals. I owe a lot of this "where I want my life to go" to that exercise!

  • Renee Says:
    September 5th, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    Maybe to do-able… next time around I'll add something CRAZY. :-)

  • Manderz Says:
    September 7th, 2010 at 9:48 am

    I haven’t put much thought in where I want to be in 10 years. But your dream is so beautiful and inspiring.

  • Akhila Says:
    September 12th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    Just ran across this blog and I love it- and I really enjoyed this post. It really resonates with me, because I'd love to visualize my life 10 years down the line and see a lot of the same things – no more quarterlife confusion, but comfort, happiness, and knowing that you're doing just what you're passionate about :)

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